Machine for washing milk-cans.



W. P. THURPE-` MACHINE FOR WASHING MILK GANS'.

APPLICATION FILED JUN-E l, 1914.

1,1 1 1,624, Patented sept. 22, 1914.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 1.

@-WL Y w. P. THORPE.

MACHINE FOB. WASHING MILK GANS.

. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1914. V 1,1 1 1,624,V Patented sepa- 22, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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1HE Nok'ms PETERSCU.. PHDw-LITHOY. wAsHlNamNju C WILLIAM'P. THORPE,v or sUGARGRovE, PENNSYLVANIA;

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I,W1LLIAM THoRrE,

a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Sugargrove, in the county of Warren and- State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements `in Machines for l/Vashing Milk-Gans; 'and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, `and exact description ofthe invention, such vas will enable others skilled inthe art to which `it appertains to make and use the same. y

My invention relates to improvements in devices for washing milk cans and the like and has for itsprimary object to provide a deviceof this character, 'having a number` of brushes, so constructed as to allowthe brushes to be extended when ay can is being washed and retracted when not in (use. In

carrying out the above` end, it becomes necessary to force the can against certain ofthe brushes in order that they may be extended i to operative position.`

A secondary object of the invention therefore becomes `to construct the device in such almanner as to prevent injury to the bristles of the brushes, by thisoperation.

A further object of the invention is to `provide simple means, vin connection* with the'above set forth elements, for thoroughly cleansing thefgoutside of the can, it being understood that the previously setA forth structure is designed for `washing the inside thereof.V g i Av still further object is to construct the entire-device in such a manner as to render the same simple and inexpensivev in construction and Well adapted to the uses for which it is designed. i

With these objects in view, the invention. residesin certain novel features of construc-` tion and combination herein described and claimed and shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinalsection through the washing tank of the machine, showing the position lwhich the various parts assume before a can is placed upon thebrushes; Fig. 2 is a similar view showingl vthe position of parts when washing the interior of a can; yand Fig.` 3 is a transverse section showing more particularly, the position of the actuating means for the brush employed for washing the exterior of the can, and taken on line 3&3 of Fig. 2. Y f

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a watervtank 1 which may be sup-v f Specification ofiLetiterrs Patent.' Application led J une 1, 19ML @Serialy N o. 842,130.

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. Patented Sept; 1914;

- "ported upon suitablelegs 2 andlwhichvmay be `ofi-any necessary proportions.

Projecting rotatably through one end wallr o f the tankl isa lshaft 3y which maybe `driven means of a suitable belt 4L, passingr around a' suitable vdrivejpulleyv r(not shownland over a pulley 'on'said shaft. As clearly'seen in the drawings, suitable bearings" 6 are provided for revolubly supporting saidshaft. Theend portion of the shaft 3, llocatedwithin the tank 1, is provided with a pai-r of longitudinally spaced collars7 which are adjustably,securedthereon by set screws 8,said collars being pro- L jing their outer endspivotedl at 1 1 to a pair of longitudinal strips v12 which constitute ithe backs of brushesl?)` andhave their ends,

disposed adjacent ythe end wall through `which 'the shaftpasses, curved inwardly as indicated at 14 in order thatthe shape` of the brushes may conform to `the shape of ythe upright wall Wto a milk can (l.y As most clearlyseen in Figs 1 andQ, coil springs 15- are attached to the shaft l3, between the-collars 7 and appropriateportions'of the lbrushes, thereby normally reti-acting the latter as seenv in.Fi-g.f1. Whenl however,`thecan C is placed in thetank and movedso as to position'thebrushes 13 in its interior, theV ends 16 of the rectilinear portions of the" strips 12, being in contact with the bottom Bof thel can Awill:.ca`use the brushes '13` to move outwardly Aas the can is 4forced still' farther in the prop'eridirection, this .move- `ment being causedby the fact that the links i 10` .swing around their pivots against ,the

tension of the springs, 15. Theshaft 3, may now be `rotated and-the canheld yfirmly thereby thoroughlywashing the linterior of its uprightwall.""w v p f In order to adaptthe device for the cleaning of the interior` ofthe bottom B, I have provided a third scrubbing brush 17 which is hingedly yconnected to the inner end of the shaft 3, one side portion of said end being rounded asfat 18ffor the purpose vof allowing the links 20, constituting the hinged connection, to swing to a position transverse of the shaft, thereby allowing the brush 17 to lie substantially `in longitudinal alinementwth said shaft.` It will therefore be seen that as the strips 12 contact with the bottom B, the free end of the yback to the brush 17 likewise contacts therewith, thereby causing the last mentioned brush to' swing outwardly to operative position simultaneously with the moving ofthe brushes 13 but that no direct strainoccurs on the active ends of the bristles forming said vbrush 17. This is an extremely important feature of the invention, since `unnecessary mutilation of the bristles is obviated. In most cases I prefer to provide a coil spring 17 attached to the collar 7 at lthe inner end of the shaft and to the hinged end of the brush 17, for the purpose of swinging said Vhen however, it is desired to move said thepurpose set forth.`

brush into contact with the can, a foot lever 23, pivoted at one end to a suitable supporting bracket carried by the tank l, may be depressed, this movement raising said brush through the instrumentality of a cable 24 .which rises from the lever 23 outside the tank 1, passes over the pulley 25 carried thereby and then depends and is connected to said brush. i

From the above set forth operation it willI be seen that the can must be held stationarily for the purpose of allowing the brushes 13 and 17 to cleanse its interior but that the can is allowed to rotate with said brushes for the purpose of allowing the brush 21 to vwash its exterior. v

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of cushioning springs 15 may be attached to the shaft 3 in any suitable manner as by brazing or solderingto limit the inward movement of the brushes 13 and to assist in projecting the same. c

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new andvdesire to'secure by Letters Patentvis:

1. A device of the character described' comprising a shaft, a pair of longitudinally spaced links pivoted tov .one side thereof, a longitudinal brush pivoted to the outer ends of said links and a second brush hingedly connected to one end of said shaft and movable independently ofthe .other brush for 2. A device of the character described Copies of this patent :nay be obtained lfor comprising a shaft, a pair of longitudinally .spaced links pivoted at their inner ends to one side thereof, a longitudinal brush piv-l otedfto the outer ends' of said links, a diagy onally disposed coil spring attached to said shaftand to the brush, a second brush having its back -disposed adjacent one end of the shaft, and hinge links carried by said last mentioned vbrush and pivoted on oppo- -site sides of the shaft, said first mentioned brush projecting beyond said last mentioned brush' when the device i-s folded by said coil spring, the two brushes being independently 'movable f 3. In a device of the character described,

a water tank, a pair o f curved arms pivotedA thereto and depending from their pivots, a

' brush carried by said arms, a pulley on one edge lof the tank, a foot lever pivoted beneath the tank and a cable passing fromA the foot lever to the brush and around the pulley. f

4. a can washing device, a longitudinal drivingy shaft havingvits inner end rounded .on one edge, a pair of pivot links pivotally connected to said inner end, a transverse brush having its back pivotally connected vto the opposite ends of said pivot links adr` links, saidl strips having one of their ends curved inwardly, bristles projecting outwardly from said strips and the curved ends thereof and coil springs connected at their outer ends to said strips, said springs pro-y jecting inwardly and being connected vto the shaft' adjacent one of the collars, whereby the tension of said'springs may be exerted to normally move saidV strips inwardly, said strips projecting beyond the' end of the first mentioned brush when folded.v

In testimony whereof I have'hereunto set my yhand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

i WILLIAM P. THORPE;

Witnesses y 11V. D. DALRYMPLE,

' F. T. ABBOTT.

five cents eachQby addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

